The Tyranny of the Urgent

Our greatest danger is life is permitting the urgent things to crowd out the important.

Charles E. Hummel

How many times do we think, “I have too much to do”, or “I don’t have time to deal with that issue”? More times than we can count. Why is this? Perhaps it’s because we so easily buy into the lie that all urgent activities must be important activities. Our default is to tend to the noisy and compelling immediate stuff, rather than hear the still, small voice of God calling us to be with him.

We wake up in the morning when the alarm goes off, and the urgent pace begins. We check our calendar to see what’s up for the day, social media to see what responses are required, and news sites to see what’s happening in the world.

We start the coffee and then dash to work where we meet with people, process paperwork, and deal with phone calls and emails. After work might find us in other meetings or social engagements, before heading home and addressing urgent needs there (family matters, chores, bills…). 

Perhaps we stay at home with kids all day. Yet the day still might start with a rush as we hear the first child cry. And then it may be a daily round of parenting activities, chores, and errands.

In either case, we can find ourselves pursuing activity without a pause, then the day has flown and we drop into bed. Gaining some rest (usually less than the recommended 8 hours) before we hop on the treadmill again the next day.

Does any of this resonate with your life? 

This is the “crowding” Hummel refers to above. Urgent tasks crowd out the more meaningful parts of life, because we always can find tasks that are urgent in nature. Furthermore, there usually are more urgent tasks than time allows. So the urgent parts of your life and mine are never-ending and never-done. 

Here's the problem: a life dominated by urgent tasks is a life in reactive mode. 

That’s why Hummel refers to this as our “greatest danger”. Our constant doing and connecting and producing – which our culture applauds and affirms – makes us weary not just in our bodies, but also in our souls and spirits. We may think we are achieving, yet we actually are stunting our own growth.

That’s why Jesus promotes a different pattern for life. A different approach with different priorities. He challenges us to give priority to what is truly important and – if we do – he will help us with what is truly urgent.

I learn so much from the story in Luke 10, where Jesus comes to dinner at Mary and Martha’s home. Martha is busy preparing a meal and becomes driven by the urgency of her self-imposed deadlines and responsibilities. She can’t distinguish between the hospitality of doing, and the hospitality of presence and companionship.

In actuality, her focus on the urgent distracts her from the important. 

So Jesus invites her to make a different choice: to sit in his presence where she can soak up his grace. Where she can breathe in his stillness. Where she can absorb his peace. This “time out” from urgency is of the greatest importance, because this is where she will find nourishment for her soul.

Jesus’ advice to Martha is, of course, also for us. As we embrace his invitation, we embrace him. And as we connect more deeply with him, he will bring rest to our compulsions and help us to re-define what truly is urgent. 

He will nourish our souls. And that’s the most important thing of all.

Let me pray for you as you begin your day.

Dear Lord, please help us realize that urgent tasks always call for more of our attention and demand more of our time. We ask for wisdom through the Spirit to discern what truly is most important, so we can conquer our compulsion to prioritize what appears to be urgent. When we’re feeling overwhelmed and weary, remind us to pause, rather than strain to accomplish more. Help us to acknowledge the danger of an “always on” lifestyle, and to make the choice to enjoy some peace and stillness with you. Because you love us, Amen. 

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